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Rice Cookers Buying Guide
If you cook a lot of long grain rice or you often spend too much time preparing your rice
Types
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Most automatic cookers are called on/off rice cookers. The operation is basic - press a button and the rice cooker runs through its cooking cycle until turning itself off. It does not require much monitoring and will adjust itself to the proper temperature to ensure that rice is well cooked. |
Similar to On/Off rice cookers, these will switch into a warm mode once the cooking cycle is complete. This feature is useful if you wish to eat the rice at a later time or if you want to store the rice throughout the day. |
Neuro Fuzzy Logic Rice Cookers More versatile than the basic rice cooker, neuro fuzzy logic rice cookers are smart enough to adjust the amount and duration of the heat during the cooking cycle to compensate for cooking errors. Many are programmable and will adjust the cooking to create sticky or fluffy rice depending on your taste. |
Induction Heating Rice Cookers Induction heating rice cookers use a special heating element that will cook rice to a more even texture. The rice pan (container) is heated more evenly and the amount of heat can be controlled with precision for the best cooking results. Top of the line rice cookers will include induction heating as a major feature. |
Important Features
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- Capacity
- A 3- to 5-cup model is adequate for two or three people or a small family. Opt for more capacity (6-10 cups) if you have a big family or tend to cook large quantities at once.
- Keep in mind that price will rise or fall according to size.
- Size will make a difference in storage. Do you have room to store the rice cooker you want?
- When reading product specs, make sure you know whether they mean "10 cups dry" or "10 cups cooked" -- there is a big difference!
- Extra Functions
- Some people want a warmer or warming function to keep your dish warm after cooking, and a steamer is necessary if you want your cooker to be multi-functional.
- The most advanced rice cookers come with features like delayed start, extended keep warm, and different settings for different types and textures of rice (long grain vs. sushi rice, hard vs. soft).
- Cleaning
- Most are non-stick, which makes for easy clean up, but some may need some soaking.
- Programmability
- Timers and autostop functions are good if you need to leave the cooker unattended or if you just happen to forget that you are cooking something.
- Accessories
- Steaming baskets
- Some cookers come with a rice spatula
- Measuring cups
- Recipe books
Quick Recommendations
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This large-capacity cooker can make up to 14 cups of rice and can also steam fish, meat and vegetables as part of your dish. This cooker is designed to make any type of rice from long grain to brown. |
This cooker makes 16 cups of rice and also comes with a warmer setting. It includes a rice ladle, steaming basket and measuring cup as well as a non-stick removable bowl for easy and varied use. |
This rice cooker comes with a glass lid and also a steam vent to ensure cooking perfection. The bowl inside is dishwasher safe for easy clean up and this cooker can also warm your rice. |
Major Manufacturers
Related Guides
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External Links
- Squidoo.com: Additional helpful rice cooker information.
International Resources
For this resource in your home country, please see:
NL: Rijstkokers Shopgids